Energy, ambition of youth on display

Published: Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 10:56 AM.

Their stories aren’t typical — some, in fact, are extraordinary — but they are more typical than you might think.

Natives of Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties grow up here, get a good education here, go away to college and perhaps, after graduation, go farther away to try their wings, but — and here’s the part too often overlooked — they come back to this area to begin an adult life and carve out a career. The talents of this group are augmented by others their age who arrive here from somewhere else, settle down and become important additions to their business circle and their community.

In other words, the best and the brightest young people don’t end up in the big city necessarily. They live and work here among us and already make significant contributions in virtually all areas that community-minded people deem important. Those contributions, too, can be overlooked.

For the past five years, The Free Press has put the spotlight on young, up-and-coming leaders with the 20 Under 40 awards, singling out 20 young residents of Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties annually with the help of nominations from readers and a winnowing process conducted by a panel of judges. This year’s honorees, the 20 Under 40 Class of 2012, are profiled in a special section in today’s paper.

These are special people, though — as we have said — not as special as you might think. With this year’s group, The Free Press has honored 100 individuals under 40 years old. When we began, we wondered how long we could sustain this award process, how deep was the pool of prospective nominees. It turns out, we shouldn’t have worried. This year, we received more nominations than ever and this group of judges had very difficult time selecting the winners. Many worthy young people didn’t make the cut, and those who did should be considered extremely worthy.

Reading the section, you will understand that they are. The 20 Under 40 award recognizes high achievement in professional and personal endeavors. Not only are they accomplished individuals who have in a relatively short time distinguished themselves in business, in education and in public service; but they also display a deep commitment to community, as volunteers, as organizers and as leaders.

In short, they get things done. They see a need and they fill it. A place can’t have too many residents like that, regardless of age.

Small towns and rural areas have to be concerned about brain drain, about the lure of the bright lights of the big city, the promise of greater opportunity and a more exciting life. Population growth does center on urban areas and the attraction of young people accounts for much of that growth. That trend has taken a toll on our communities.

It has not, however, created a crisis. Of this year’s 20 Under 40 honorees, 75 percent now live in the towns where they were born and grew up. That’s not an unusually high number for 20 Under 40 classes, but it’s worth noting because it shows that, even with the drain, our area can retain. There are many more than 20 young people making a difference where we live this year. Appreciating that fact is the best way to honor, and assure, their presence.

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Their stories aren’t typical — some, in fact, are extraordinary — but they are more typical than you might think.

Natives of Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties grow up here, get a good education here, go away to college and perhaps, after graduation, go farther away to try their wings, but — and here’s the part too often overlooked — they come back to this area to begin an adult life and carve out a career. The talents of this group are augmented by others their age who arrive here from somewhere else, settle down and become important additions to their business circle and their community.

In other words, the best and the brightest young people don’t end up in the big city necessarily. They live and work here among us and already make significant contributions in virtually all areas that community-minded people deem important. Those contributions, too, can be overlooked.

For the past five years, The Free Press has put the spotlight on young, up-and-coming leaders with the 20 Under 40 awards, singling out 20 young residents of Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties annually with the help of nominations from readers and a winnowing process conducted by a panel of judges. This year’s honorees, the 20 Under 40 Class of 2012, are profiled in a special section in today’s paper.

These are special people, though — as we have said — not as special as you might think. With this year’s group, The Free Press has honored 100 individuals under 40 years old. When we began, we wondered how long we could sustain this award process, how deep was the pool of prospective nominees. It turns out, we shouldn’t have worried. This year, we received more nominations than ever and this group of judges had very difficult time selecting the winners. Many worthy young people didn’t make the cut, and those who did should be considered extremely worthy.

Reading the section, you will understand that they are. The 20 Under 40 award recognizes high achievement in professional and personal endeavors. Not only are they accomplished individuals who have in a relatively short time distinguished themselves in business, in education and in public service; but they also display a deep commitment to community, as volunteers, as organizers and as leaders.

In short, they get things done. They see a need and they fill it. A place can’t have too many residents like that, regardless of age.

Small towns and rural areas have to be concerned about brain drain, about the lure of the bright lights of the big city, the promise of greater opportunity and a more exciting life. Population growth does center on urban areas and the attraction of young people accounts for much of that growth. That trend has taken a toll on our communities.

It has not, however, created a crisis. Of this year’s 20 Under 40 honorees, 75 percent now live in the towns where they were born and grew up. That’s not an unusually high number for 20 Under 40 classes, but it’s worth noting because it shows that, even with the drain, our area can retain. There are many more than 20 young people making a difference where we live this year. Appreciating that fact is the best way to honor, and assure, their presence.